Seroepidemiological Investigation of Arboviruses in Callithrix jacchus in Sergipe, Brazil

Several arboviruses circulate in wild and urban transmission cycles, most of which are zoonotic. Some species of non-human primates (NHP), such as Callithrix jacchus, are important amplifying hosts. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of antibodies to arboviruses in the blood of free-living C. jacchus in conservation areas in the state of Sergipe, Northeast Brazil. Serum samples were assessed by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) serological assay to detect total antibodies against specific antigens of 20 different types of arboviruses. A total of 47 samples were analyzed and showed 55% reactivity for 12 of the arboviruses tested and all reactions were heterotypic for three or more flaviviruses. The samples that reacted to the HI assay were subjected to an ELISA test to detect antibodies of the IgM class, but all were negative. The HI results show the circulation of arboviruses belonging to the genus Flavivirus, and Mucambo virus. This demonstrates the need to monitor the health of NHPs to understand the participation of different species in the arbovirus transmission cycle, mainly those that are endangered and endemic to the area, as well as to associate animal health data with surveillance of human cases.